Windshield Wiper Trouble Shooting

[searya]

The windshield wipers on my 1984 Azzura aren't working. Was hoping someone could help me trouble shoot

I just bought the car and the gentleman I bought it from said they were working just the other day so I am guessing the motors are good.

If anyone has some troubleshooting steps I would appreciate the help!

Thanks,

Sean
St. Louis

[DRUMMOND]

Check the fuse B. Check for power to the relay, Check the ground. Check the speed switch.

[spidernut]

After checking the fuse and cleaning the fuse box contacts if they're heavily tarnished, if it still doesn't work:

- Remove the cowling
- Remove the nut that holds the wiper arm mechanism to the wiper motor
- Turn on the wipers and see if the motor runs. You should see the drive gear turning.
-- If the motor is running but the drive gear is not turning, you have a bad drive gear inside the wiper mechanism (common problem)
-- If the motor isn't running, check the voltage to the wiper motor. If you have voltage, you probably have a bad motor.
-- If the wiper motor is running and the gear is turning, check to make sure the wiper arm mechanism isn't seized up. You may need to lubricate everything to free it up.
- Last would be the wiper relay. It is located with the other relays under the glove box.

[spider2081]

Looking at the wire diagram for the 1984 Spider on Mirafiori.com it shows power for the windshield wiper switch originates from fuse #12. Some Spiders prior to 1983 used fuse 2 to power the windshield wipers. It also does not show a relay in the wiper motor circuit. There may very well be another wire diagram for the 84 that I am not looking at.

I do not like to remove the nut at the wiper motor that connects the motor arm to the linkage because the arms position on the wiper motor shaft is set to the internal park position switch. If the arm is not replaced in the exact same position on the shaft the wiper blade can park incorrectly and even move downward before moving upward when the motor is powered. I like to remove the little spring clip at the other end of the arm. The arm is only about 3-4 inches long and there is little danger when it is rotating freely if the motor is energized.
I think checking the linkage for free and easy movement is always a good starting point when troubleshooting windshield wipers. Again this is done by disconnecting the motor arm from the linkage not the motor. Friction and binding commonly occurs in the shafts the wiper arms attach to.
While the earlier spider steering column wiper switches seldom cause issues, the 83-85 seem to more problematic.

[searya]

Thanks for the replies. I will be trying out the fixes this weekend and will report back.

[searya]

Okay I started with the checking today and have to go far. Started with the most obvious which is a fuse. The guy I bought it from said he checked and they were fine, but either it was and blew later or he didn't see that it was blown.

In either way, replaced the first fuse in the picture below with an 8amp fuse from Autozone and windshield wipers are back on.

To be fair I also removed the hood cowl, cleaned out 20 years of texas dirt and used wd-40 on the linkages so maybe that did the trick to when combined with the fuse.

The same fuse also fixed my digital dash clock!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1eGQFM ... KWRxB2mnF5

[searya]

quick question. It was the first fuse slot that fixed the Wipers and clock on my 1984.

Is that considered slot 12 per the previous post from spider2081?

If so I guess the fuses are numbered right to left..

[spider2081]

If you join Mirafiori.com it is another Fiat chat room. They have a library that is available to members only. In their library there is an owners manual for a 1985 Spider and the wire diagrams for a 1984 Spider.

The Owners manual shows the #1 fuse is closest to the steering column. Also pages 100 and 101 list the fuses and the circuits connected to them. I think the most important thing in the 83-85 owners manual is the proper operation of the steering column switches for the headlights, windshield wipers and parking lights

[searya]

thanks so much. I have been trying to find that info! I joined Mirafiori and just got activated today!

[KWL82]

FWIW, my wipers didnt work and it was far down on my list of projects as I had no intention of driving in the rain but after my alternator gave out and I replaced with higher amp unit they magically worked just fine. maybe get your alternator tested.